Tag Archives: Canada

GM Rolls Out New Electric Mini-Car


By Dee-Ann Durbin – An all-electric version of the mini-car will debut this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It goes on sale this summer in California, Oregon, Canada and South Korea, where it’s made. Other markets will follow.

The Spark EV will also be cheaper than most of its electric rivals, GM says. Exact pricing hasn’t been revealed, but the car will start for less than $25,000 in the U.S. when a $7,500 federal tax credit is factored in. The electric Nissan Leaf starts at $27,700 with the tax credit. Like all electrics, though, the Spark is much pricier than its gasoline-powered equivalent. The gas-operated Spark starts at $12,245. more> http://tinyurl.com/btal9jq

And the World’s Most Educated Country Is…


By Samantha Grossman – Despite the ongoing financial woes across the globe, though, many think that college is still worth the investment. A new study shows that we’ve continued to flock to institutions of higher learning, enrolling at record rates over the past few years.

The top 10 most-educated countries are:

  1.  Canada
  2. Israel
  3. Japan
  4. United States
  5. New Zealand
  6. South Korea
  7. United Kingdom
  8. Finland
  9. Australia
  10. Ireland

more> http://tinyurl.com/8vhe2ys

Romney: Energy independence by 2020 not ‘pie in the sky’


English: CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Commi...

English: CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee Mitt Romney offering remarks before a curling event (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Geneva Sands – “If I’m the president of the United States, in a few months here, I will set a national goal of America and North America, North American energy independence by 2020 … that means we produce all the energy we use in North America, and there are a number of things that I’m going to do to make that happen,” said Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Additional energy production would come from offshore oil drilling, “tight oil” from fracking, Alaskan drilling, natural gas, biofuels and a partnership with Canada. more> http://tinyurl.com/8eutxl3

Google reports ‘alarming’ rise in government censorship requests


By John D. Sutter – Western governments, including the United States, appear to be stepping up efforts to censor Internet search results and YouTube videos, according to a “transparency report” released by Google.

Google complied more frequently with U.S.-based requests for information about users than with requests from other countries, according to the report. It complied or partially complied with only 24% of such requests from Canada, 44% from France and 64% from the United Kingdom, for example. more> http://tinyurl.com/dydm8c9

Royal Canadian Mint to create digital currency


By Emily Jackson – Less than a week after the government announced the penny’s impending death, the Mint quietly unveiled its digital currency called MintChip.

Still in the research and development phase, MintChip will ultimately let people pay each other directly using smartphones, USB sticks, computers, tablets and clouds. The digital currency will be anonymous and good for small transactions — just like cash, the Mint says.

To make sure its technology meets the gold standard in a world where digital transactions are gaining steam, the Mint is holding a contest for software developers to create applications using the MintChip. more> http://tinyurl.com/7bowjxt